Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1887-07-03

of the Beers, had promptly thrown down
their tools and were flying to the nils.
Even rs they passed a shot was tired some
where from the direction OF the avenue,
and the last of the Kaffirs, a lad OF about
twelve, suddenly threw up his hands and
pitehed forward on TO his face, with q bull
let between his shoulder blades.
Bessie heard the shout of Good shot,
good shotr' and the brutal laughter that
greeted his fall, and the tramping Of the
horses as they came up the drive.
'0h, uncle." she said, what shall we
do?"
The old man made no answer ut the mo-
ment, bat going to q rack upon the wall,
reached down q Westley-R Richards falling
block rifle that hung there. Then he sat
down in a wooden armchair that faced the
French window opening on to the yeranda,
and beckoned to her to com to him.
I'VE will meet them 90" he said.
They shall see that we are not
afraid of them. Don't be frightened, dear,
they will not dare to harm us; they will
be afaid of the consequences Of harmlng
English people"
The words were scarcely out of his mouth
when the cayalcade began to appear IN
front of the window, led, as JAMIE had
said. by Frank Muller on his black horse,
accompanied by Hans COetzee on the fat
pony, and the Misunderstanding Hendrix
mounted on a nOndescript sort OF animal,
and carrying q u and an assegal IN MS
hand. Behind these we've a body of about
fifteen or sixteen armed men, among whom
Silas Croft recognized most Of his neigh
bors, by whose side he had lived for years
in peace and amity.
Opposite the house they stopped and be-
gan looking about. They could not see
into the o at once, OF account OF the
bright light outside and the shadow within.
II fancy you will find the birds flown,
nephew, " said the fat voice Of Hans Coetzee.
They have got warning OF your little
visit"
''They cannot be far" answered Muller.
IL have had them watched, and know that
they have not left the place. Get down,
uncle, and look in the house, and you too,
Hendrix"
The Kafhr obeyed with alacrity, tumb-
ling out of his saddle with all the grace Oh
a sack of Goals, but the BOer hesltated.
Uncle Silas is an angry man" he ven-
tured; ''he might shoot if he found me
poking about his house"
Don't answer me-" Numbered Muller;
yet down and do AS l bid youH'
''Ah, what q devil Ola man. murmured
tine unfortunate Hans rs he hurried to
obey.
Meanwhile Hendrix the one-eyed had
| Jumped upon the veranda and was peering
through the windows.
Here they are, baas; here they are!' be
sang out; 1.-THE old cock aud the pullet,
too and he gave q kick to the window,
which, being Unattached, swung wide open,
revealing the old man sitting there III his
wooden armchair with Bessie standing at
his side, his rifle on his knees, and holding
his fair-haired niece by the hand. Frank
Muller d~ismounted and came on to the
yeranda, and behind him crowded up a
dozen or more Of his followers.
What is it that you want, Frank Null
Ter, that you come to my house with all
these armed mem" asked Silas Croft from
his chair.
Il call upon you, Silas Croft, TO sur
render 10 take your trial as aland betrayer
and rebel against the republic" was the
answer. II am sorry" he added, with a
bow towards Bessie, on whom his eyes had
been fixed all the time, ito be Obliged to
take you prisoner in the presence OF a lady,
but my duty gives me no choice
IL do not know what you mean" said
the old man. II am a subject OF Queen
Victoria and an Euglishman. How, then,
IAN | be 4 rebel against any republic? l
Am IN Eugllshman, | say, he went Oh
with rising g speaking so high that
his powerful voice rang until every BOer
there could hear it, and | acknowledge
the authority of no republics. This is my
house, and / order You to leave 1t. | clam
my rights ~ an Englishman-"
Here" interrupted Muller, coldly,
Englishmen have no rights, except such as
we choose to allow to them"
Shoot him." cried a voice.
Treat him as Bushes treated Van der
| Linden at PotchefstrOOm!' cried another.
eyes, make him swallow the same pill
that we gave to DIR. Barber" put in a
third.
"Silas Croft, are you goingto surrender"
asked Muller, i'll the same cold voice.
"Ho"r thundered the old man in his
English pride. IL surrender to no rebels
in arms against the queen. | Will shoot
the inst man who tries To lay u finger on
mer' and he rose to his feet and lifted his
rifle.
''Shall | shoot him, baas?-shall / shoot
him?" asked the one-eyed Hendrix, smack
ing his lips at the thought, and tiddling
with the rusty lock OF the old fowling piece
he carried.
Muller, by way OF answer, struck him
across the iace with the back of his hand.
"Hans Coetzee, " he said, go and arrest
that man"
Poor Hans hesitated, a. well he might.
Nature had not endowed him with any
great amount of natural courage, and the
sight OF his old neighbours rile-barrel
made him feel positively sick. He heSitated
and began to stammer excuses.
Are you going, uncle, or must i de
nOunee you to the general asa sympathizer
with Englishmen?" asked Muller, in
malice, for he knew the old fellows weak,
nesses and cowardiee, and was playing on
them.
II am going. OF course | am going,
nephew. Excuse me, a little faintness
took me-the heat of the sun, " he babbled,
''Oh, yes, | am going to seize the rebel,
Perhaps one of those young men would not
mind engaging his attention OF the other
side. He is IN angry mani know him
of Old-and an angry man with a gun, you
know, dear nephew"
Are you goiug?" said his terrible
master once more.
''Oh, yes! certainly, yes, Dear Uncle
Silas, pray put down that gun, 1t Is SO
dangerous. Don't stand there looking like
a wild OK, but come up to the yoke. You
are old, Uncle Siias, and ! don't want to
have to hurt you. Come now, come, come, y
aud he held put his hand towards him as
though he were 3 shy horse that he was
e~ndeavoring to beguile.
Hans COetzee, traitor and liar that you
are" said the old man, III you come
single step nearer, by God! l will put
bullet through you'
go on, Hans; chuck a rein over his
head; get him by the tail; knock him
down with a yokeskei; turn the old bull
on his backr' shouted the crowd of scotfer:
| from the window taking very pood care,